In the Time of the Butterflies - Page Text Content

2: Friday Trujillo, you monster tormenting our Dominican country. I, a woman (actually just 17 at the time) have decided to be a lawyer that will fight your unfair and hurtful laws and expose your false love for our wonderful country." That's what my sister Minerva recited to the picture of Trujillo in our dining room last night before going to bed. I don't blame her for he reasoning and stating her opinion. Trujillo also, known as El Jefe, is a harsh ruler. Well so I heard from Minerva. . .

3: Key This is Dede speaking of her younger sister, Minerva, who has a very bold spirit and talks negatively of their dictator Trujillo. He kills people that come in the way of his laws. But he does this secretly which is why Minerva mentions of exposing his false love of his country that he uses to win the hearts of the citizens. Minerva decides on being a lawyer so she can fight against Trujillo's policies that he uses to govern the country.

4: I met the most sophisticated man I will probably come across in my life... Virgilio Morales. Minerva ofcourse takes advantage of this attractive stranger and easily steals him away from my reach. How awful! Her high leveled socialization skills are active 24/7. If only I had half of her boldness. Ah my bold Minerva!

5: Key Dede and Minerva come upon someone at their father's store, Virgilio Morales. He happenes to attend a university. Dede unfortunately thinks he is motioning to her until Minerva catches his attention with conversation. Dede's shy personality draws her away from their talking and hurts her that Virgilio is not paying any attention to her. The picture above is of Minerva.

6: Ay Papi, how could you leave us in our time of need? Mami is going to break down. Plus how are we going to face Trujillo who is hunting us down, especially Minerva. God deliver us all! How about your newly discovered family? How would we live without you? This Dominican dictatorial rule is going to hunt us down before we can get over our dear lost Papi. Ay Dios! | We will Miss You: - Mama - Patria - Dede -Maria Teresa -Minerva

7: Key Dede's father just died after being placed in prison by the orders of Trujillo their country's dictator. Minerva was under his watchful eye as she opposed his rule and wanted a revolution from it. Minerva discovered Papi was living a double life; he had another family with four daughters and their mother living a very poor life. Now that Papi is dead, they need a source of help. Before Papi's death, he and his wife were not getting along together. They had just started mending their unhappiness when Papi died. This put a heavy weight on his family.

8: Love is what we all found, some it took longer though. My dear Jaimito, my sweet husband. Patria married earlier to her hardworking Pedrito. Minerva took upon Manolo, someone she met from law school. Maria Teresa is still young, not ready for the complications of love. Trust me, I've been there, I know these things.

9: Key Dede married her cousin Jaimito, celebrated the marriages of her other two sisters, Minerva and Patria. Minerva married later because she focused on her studies of law in a university. Maria Teresa happens to be the youngest of them all, being nine years younger than her older sister Minerva.

10: University of Monte Criste College of Law On the 27th July, 1957, the faculty and the authority vested in them, this is presented to Minverva Mirabal the degree of Law This diploma has been granted under the permission of the honorable Dominican Republic.

11: Key Minerva's graduation from law school held a great deal of importance in her family as she was the only one to go through college. Her strong voice in politics urged her to study law, but her degree was pronouced useless by Trujilo, who being the dictator of her country did not want her to use her knowledge in policitics to drive him out of office as she intended to.

13: Key The secret organization, Accion Clero-Cultural, was discovered by the public and the Mirabal sisters were arrested including their husbands (Except for Dede and her husband, Jaimito). They were kept in prison to be tortured and to be seperated from each other to prevent a powerful uprise of a revolution.

14: Dear Hermanas, How dearly I miss you both.! Mama is doing fine, and so are the children. I hope they treat you well, and feed you well. Oh how I wish you did not get involved in this revolution business, you both and Patria. How lucky she is not to have been sent to prison. I pray for all of you everyday. One day, who knows, there would be a revolution, and Trujillo will get what he deserves. I love you all, and all your esposos too. Hope to see you soon. ~ Dede ~

15: Key This is a letter Dede wrote to her sisters in prison. Minerva and Maria Teresa were jailed for organizing a revolutionary group that will overthrow Trujillo, their harsh dictator. Patria, who was also part of their organization, was not arrested, but her husband was along with Minerva and Maria Teresa's husbands also, who were members of their group. Dede had rejected her sister's request of joining their group, and so had her husband, who was not arrested. They left their children in the care of Dede and their mother. * Esposos - Husbands * Hermanas - Sisters

16: Unreplacable treasures of gold, Brave hearts oh so bold. Nuturing mothers and wonderful sisters, Our revolution you will surely bring us. Your lives you gave for freedom, Freedom from cruel and harsh foes. Maria, Patria and Minerva, You will always be our strong heroes!

17: Maria Teresa, Patria and Minerva Mirabal were all brutally murdered November 25 of 1960. They were killed on their way home from visiting their impisoned husbands. They're murderers were directed under the order of Trujillo who wanted to get rid of the Mirabal sisters so as to prevent his impeachment. Due to this event, revolt followed and the cruel dictator was assassinated. These brave women left their husbands, children, sister and mother behind. The three Mirabal sisters were then considered heroes as they were the ones who started the road to the Dominican Republic Revolution.